Note-sheet for automatic musical instruments.



PLATENTED JANJ'I, 1908.

I I. B.- SMITH. NOTE SHEET FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1905,

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IRVING B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STOKES &SMITH COM- PANY, 01*..PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF. NEW JERSEY.

NOTE SHEET FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING B. SMiTrr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Note-Sheetsfor Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inperforated note sheets for self-playing or automatically operatedmusical instruments, and has to do more especially with novel systemv ofmarking the sheets to indicate to theperformer just whicharticular"expression or tempo "controlling r. evice is to bemanipulated, and the extent of movement to be given to said device ordevices, in order to obtain a certain definite musical effect orexpression.

In some of the known typesof piano layers a single lever is employed tocontrol the tempo, or speed of travel of the music sheet; and likewiseone or more levers or other devices are em iloyed to control theexpression mechanism forming a part of the player, or of the pianoitself.

The purpose of the present invention isto provide perforated musicsheets with suitable indicating marks or characters representing theabove mentioned expression and tempo controlling devices, either orboth, and indicating, through their position and relative arrangementone to the other, just which particular device is to be actuated, andthe extent and direction of movement to be imparted thereto, in order toobtain a certain definite musical effect or expression.

Briefly and generally stated the invention comprises a perforated noteor'musict sheet, having. marks or characters thereon desi nating anexpression controlling device, said marks or characters being locatedand arranged so that their particular location and position willdetermine the exact position said device is to assume in order to obtaina certainmusical effect.

The invention further comprises a perforated music shoet having marks orcharac- 'ters thereon representing expression con trol. ling devices,said marks or characters indicating through their particular locationand position relative to each other and to a line or lines adjacentthereto, justwhich particular expression device is to be manipulated andthe extent and direction of movement to Speification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 7 1905 Serial No. 264.085.

i for controlling the musical Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

be im arted thereto, in order to obtain a certain definite musicaleflect or expression.

In order to enable others to clearlyunder- I stand, make and use myimprovements above indicated, I. will now proceed. to describe the samein detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a face or plan view of a music sheet markedaccording to the said invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showingthe use of different indicating marks or ch aracters.

In the drawing the reference numeral 1 designates an ordinary perforatedmusic sheet of common construction and 2, the

spool upon which it is wound.

The .ex ression marks or characters now to be descri ed are imprinted orotherwise delineated upon the face of the sheet and may be located atany desired or convenient place thereon, either in the center or alongone edge at either side. In the present instance I have shown the marksor characters indieatingor representing the expression controllingdevices, arranged alon the right hand edge of the sheet, and those inicating or representing the tempo controlling device along the left handedge of the sheet. Obviously, this arrangement may be varied or reversedto suit the convenience of the performer or the particular instrument orinstruments with which the sheet is to housed.

I will first describe the marks or character's arranged along the righthand edge of the sheet, whichmarks or characters repre sent or indicatethe three expression levers tones in the bass, middle and trebleportions of a piano, said= levers being the same as those illustratedand described in my patent, No. 7 77,226, dated Dec. 13, 1904, forexpression mechanism for automatically operated musical instruments.Obviously, my im lroved system of marking perforated music s eets may beemployed in connection with a greater or a less number of expressionlevers without de artingfrom the spirit thereof, the showing ere beingmade only by way of example.

In the drawing the reference numeral 3 designates a part of theexpression controlling device for the basshammers or strings of thepiano; 4, the controlling device for the middle range of hammers orstrings and 5 the controlling device for the treble strings or hammers.In the system of marking illustrated in Fi l of the drawing, eachofthese controlling evices 3, 4 and 5 is indicated by a legend mark orcharacter which in'it'selfis a conventional representation of theparticular expression device on the piano or 'iano player and istherefore readily recognizable an distinguishable.

shown in the drawing, and for purpose of ex am le only, is desi nated asan index line,

indicative of and ta ing the place of the substantially normal positionof the controlling device of the musical instrument in whichthe musicsheet is incor orated. In some closely adjacent to t e upper transverseline.

representing the bass and treble, are'in norinstances it is also desirale to connect the marks or characters 3, 4 and 5 by. lines 8 for a pmose presently to appear.

As efore state the urpose of the present invention is to rovi e a systemof markings whereby toin icate to the performer just.

which particular expression device is to be operated and the extent ofmovement'to be im arted thereto in order to obtain a certain 4 5 willnow proceed to describe how these various intell ences may be indicated,it being understoo that this illustration is given only by way ofexample and applies more particularly to those pianos or piano-playerswherein'separate expression devices are employed to control the bass,the middle and the treble strings or hammers. For clearness in descrition, I have-indicated the.

markings as position 0 position D,

position EQposition and position G, but it will be ap arent that theremay be other positions an that in actual prac-' tice the arrangementwill be in accord with the musical score.

As shown in osition o, the three indicatQ ing marks or c aracters 3, 4and 5, are arranged, in the same lane, parallel with and 6.- This issupposed [to be the normal position of the controlling leversand-indicates that all the notes will be soundedpianissimoJ If now, themusical score shows that notes in the middle range of the piano are tobe accented to' the full extent, then the music sheet will be marked as.indicated in position D, wherein it will be seen that the mark 4represe'ntingthe middle range of keys, is shown as depressed; while themarks 3 and 5,

mal osition. If all the notes in the bass;

- mid e and treble are 'to be played with a forteeifect, then all threeof the marks 3, 4

and '5 representing the three expression 1e Thesele'gend marks or,characters are preferably arranged transte musical expression oreffect,'and I 'vers, will be shown as depressed to the full extentas-indicated in position E.' If the 'musicals'core indicates that thebass notes are tobe sounded fairly soft or ianissimo, the notes in themiddle range 0 the piano moderately loud, and the notes in thetreblefull loud, then the indicating marks will be represented asinposition-F, wherein it will be seen that the mark or character 3 isslightly below the 'line 6, the, mark or character 4 about midwaybetween the two lines 6 and 7, and the mark or character 5 closelyadjacent the line 7. If the musical score played loud, and the middlerange of notes soft or pianissimo, then the' indicating marks orcharacters will be arranged as in position G.

tions of changes in the ex ression devices to obtain different musical eects, but it will be obvious that many other changes may be made whichwill necessitate corresponding changes in the position of the variousexpresslon marks or characters. The amount of depression to be given tothe various expression devices will be indicated by the distance betweenthe particular mark or character and its adjacent lines6 and 7, and theparticular device tobe 0 erated will be indishows that the bassandtreblenotes are to be I have described above only five indica-f cated by theposition 0 'the marks orchar- 'acters relative to each other and to theline 6 or 7. The lines 8, which connect the several marks orcharacters3, 4 and 5, are to indicate the general relation of the leversor devices at a glance and to assist in making a more or less continuouspicture.-

Insteadof employing marks or characters in the shape of conventionalrepresentations of the expression devices, I ma employ simple letterssuch as B, M and as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing; and theseletters may, if desired, be bounded byacircular or other line, as shown.I do not wish to limit mark, for it will be obvious that this is notmaterial.

On the left hand side of the sheet, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, Ihave shown ,a system of marking embodying the principle above set forth,to indicateto the performer just how the tempo lever is'to be operatedand the extent of movement to be given said lever to cause themusi'csheet to travel at the desired'and proper speed.

In the drawing the reference numerals 12 and, 13 designate indexes,shown, for example in the form of Lines which extend longitudinally ofthe sheet 1-, and the line 12, for example, may be taken as-an indexrepresenting and taking the place of the substanlegend mark or character14 designating in a conventional way or otherwise, the tempo "myself toany particular character or form of' tially normal position of the tempoleverof the instrument, and between these lines is a lever of the pianoplayer. The position of this mark relative to either the line 12 or theline 13, will indicate the direction, and extent of movement to beimparted to the'tempo lever in. order to control the speed of the Forinstance, if t-he indicating.

music sheet. mark 14 is closely adjacent the line 13, then it will beapparent that the tempo lever should be moved to cause the sheet totravel -i'ast.

that the tempo lever should be correspondingly moved, which will causethe sheet to travel at a moderate rate of speed If the indicating markis closely adjacent the line 12, this will indicate that the tempo leveris to be moved accordingly so as to causethe. sheet to travel slow. Anyintermediate-p0- sition or location of the indicating mark, relative tothe lines 12 and 13, will indicate corresponding positions ofthe tempolever.v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:- Y

1. A perforated note sheet provided at dif lerent points throughout itslength within-- eachline and positioned relatively theretd to:

indicate the exact position a controlling device of a musical instrumentis to assume in order to obtain a iven musical expression.

3. A perforated music sheet having thereon at difi'erent pointsthroughout its length index lines, and legends representing acontrolling device of a. musical instrument, positioned relatively toeach line to indicate the extent of movement to be imparted thereto inorder to obtain a certain musical expression.

i. A perforated music sheet having thereon a plurality of separatelyarranged index lines, and a plurality of sets of legends each repi stinga separate controlling device of a musical instrument positionedrelatively to If the indicating mark is midway b e tween the lines 12and 18, this will indicate each line to indicate the exact position andextent of-movement to be imparted to said device in order to obtaingiven musical effects.

5. A perforatedmusic sheet having thereon at different points along thesheet a plurality of pairs of parallel index lines, anda legendrepresenting a controlling device of a musical instrument, arrangedbetween each pair of lines and indicating by its location relativelytheretO the extent of movement to be given said controlling device inorder to obtain a certain definite result.

6. A perforated music sheet. having imprinted thereon at differentpoints throu 'hout itsleng'th a plurality of pairs of para lel indexlines, and a plurality of sets of legends each legend representing aseparate control ling device of a musicalinstrument one set arrangedbetween each pair of said lines and indicating by their positionrelatively toleach other and to the lines, the extent and direction ofmovement to be imparted to said devices in order to-obtain a givenmusical effect.

7. A perforated music sheet having imprinted thereon at different pointsthroughout its length a plurality of-index lines, and a plurality ofsets of legends, each legend representing a separate controlling deviceof a musical instrument one of said sets positioned relatively to eachline to indicate the position and extent of movement to be imparted tosaid devices in order to obtain given musical effects, andconnecting-lines between the said legends.

8. A perforated music sheet having thereon indexes arranged at differentpoints throughout its length and a conventional representation of a partof a controlling device looated adjacent each index and, indi cating byits position on the sheet with relation to said index the extent ofmovement to be imparted to the said device in order to obtain a givenresult.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. I

IRVING B. SMITH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES T. BOWMAN, -F. W. EOKELMEYER.

